While celebrations marking the German tradition of Oktoberfest usually start in late September, this year, two of the biggest parties will be held on Oct. 18 and 19 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s newly renovated Harbor Garden Tent.

Aside from giving revelers the chance to drink mugs of beer and feast on hearty German fare, it also allows them to network and socialize.

Last year, over 3,500 guests partied in the two-day event, downing over 28,548 liters of beer, 950 kilograms of German sausages, 260 kg of pork knuckles and 200 kg of sauerkraut. It was the third time the hotel had served as venue for the German Club’s Oktoberfest and the 74th year since the club started celebrating it in the country.

This year’s Oktoberfest will have an even grander spread of authentic Bavarian cuisine, with music by the Bavarian Sound Express from Munich, well-known from previous Oktoberfests in Manila.

The group is popular for encouraging guests to sing and dance the night away. On Oct. 19, the Bloomfields will perform ’60s retro music.

To mark the 180th year of Oktoberfest worldwide, the Harbor Garden Tent will be decorated in the Bavarian colors, white and blue.

A spread prepared by Sofitel’s executive chef Eric Costille supported by the German Club chefs will consist of freshly roasted pork knuckles, roasted calf, laugen rolls, grilled German sausages and pastries paired with free-flowing ice-cold San Miguel beer. Women will be in dirndls and men in Lederhosen during the two-day affair.

The hotel is giving special rates for Oktoberfest ticket holders: overnight accommodations at a superior room are P5,000 net. Breakfast at Spiral the following day is an additional P1,200 net per person.

A raffle draw is set with over P4 million worth of prizes, including a round-trip business class ticket to Germany with Etihad, Mercedes Benz weekend drives with an overnight stay in Baguio, laptops, DSL cameras from Canon, Apple iPads from Mac, Levi’s jeans and Puma shirts.

Proceeds from the raffle go to the German Club’s welfare projects. Raoul J. Chee Kee

Call German Club Manila at tel. 8173552 or 8184236; or Sofitel Philippine Plaza at tel. 8326988 or 5515555 ext. 6988.

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